Racket grip aid

ABSTRACT

Fast, strong and steady racket swing can be made, without having a special skill. 
     Providing a band which is made of one or more materials of fiber, resin, rubber, leather, metal, and other elastic material, and/or providing a fingerhold for a thumb and a fingerhold for an index finger, or a fingerhold for a thumb, which are made of one or more materials of fiber, resin, rubber, leather, metal, and other elastic material, and by pushing down or pushing up the fingerholds, the racket grip is turned to the side of fingerhold or to the other side of fingerhold, and inward or outward rotation operations of the racket grip continue, making the best use of a series of racket swing which started from the take-back.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a racket grip aid to make the racketswing quick, strong and steady.

In case of the racket sports tool using a grip (a handle) such asbadminton, tennis, and table tennis, it is expected to give such effectof use as the easiness to put an effort, and support to be skidproof, inaddition to merely giving a good feeling, for the players.

As players hit a ball (a shuttle) by their capacity using the racket,the fastest and streamlined process of action is required to hit theball after taking a backswing of racket. The racket grip aid of thepresent invention supports players to make the racket swing fast, strongand steady, and reduces the load of body.

In case of badminton, the most basic strokes include clear, smash, drop,cut, etc. Facing sideways first, keeping/giving the weight on the rightleg, pulling an elbow behind, dropping a racket behind, gradually movingthe weight to the left leg, throwing out a chest while opening a body tothe direction of net, sticking out the elbow above, drawing up theracket, hitting the racket surface against a shuttle, by theincycloduction and pronation (inward rotation operation) of upper armand forearm. In this case, without grasping the grip firmly, attachingthe thumb and the index finger lightly, and grasping the grip with alittle finger, a third finger, and a middle finger, it is necessary toput the power just before the impact. For a backhand stroke,above-mentioned incycloduction and pronation of the upper arm andforearm corresponds to the excycloduction and supination (outwardrotation operation) of upper arm and forearm.

One of the ways to grasp a badminton racket is called “eastern grip”which is like grasping a kitchen knife, and a gut surface of racket tostrike a shuttle can not be seen from the front of opposite side, as itis facing the side, until it hits a shuttle after taking a backswing ofthe racket, and the racket surface is turned to the front, just beforehitting the shuttle. There is another way to have the racket called“western grip” like grasping a flying pan which is the same as a way topick up the racket on the floor.

Both eastern and western grips are used, according to the situation in agame. However, it is important to master a manner of the eastern grip,first. Assuming that the change of racket grip may occasionally takesplace in the game, the present invention provides a useful way tosupport players, as an assistance tool for either eastern grip orwestern grip.

The basic strokes of badminton include overhead, underhand, and sidearmstrokes. Overhead stroke is the most basic one, being used on suchstrokes as clear, drop, cut, smash, etc. Underhand stroke is for hittinga shuttle which was dropped lower than the net, and sidearm stroke isfor the case when the shuttle came to the side of player, and those twostrokes are mainly for defending.

The most basic racket swing “overhead stroke” is to have each jointrelax, by the spine (which was shaped like a pillar with the connectionof bones called “vertebra”), and generally by turning an axis ofbackbone, players quickly and largely make a take-back of dominant arm(throwing up the dominant arm which has the racket, and drop the racketon back (the rear), and have to put the racket to the front in the orderof elbow, wrist, racket head, and forcefully, hit the shuttle, by theupper arm's (which means part of from elbow to shoulder) incycloduction,and forearm's (which means part from wrist to elbow) pronation (inwardrotation operation) of forearm. Also, generally, as each person can notkeep the condition always good, it is necessary to be conscious of thechange of form, and the acquirement and stabilization of an appropriateracket swing takes a time.

They say that the badminton sport has a population of 50,000,000 playersin 154 countries/areas, in the world, and lovers of badminton maycontinue to increase in the future, too.

Besides preparing an appropriate grip for those of beginner, child,woman, aged, and handicapped, and preventing tendinitis, elbow pain andthe drop of racket due to a careless action or declining grip power, itis further desirable to reduce a training load and realize a power-up.

Under such circumstances to cope with the above-mentioned task, inventorof the present invention recognized an importance of forearm's inwardand outward rotation operations, and as the results of attempt aiming atthe functions of thumb and index finger, confirmed that the presentinvention may reasonably contribute to the improvement of racket swing,making the best use of this grip aid.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the above-mentioned situation andproblems. For example, in case of striking a shuttle by the racket swingto be powered by those three action elements of upper arm (shoulder),forearm (elbow), and wrist which are functionally combined well,assuming that the band and fingerholds of thumb and index finger or thefingerhold of thumb are installed on the racket grip, and pushing up ordown the fingerhold, the racket grip is turned to the side of fingerholdof thumb or to the side of fingerhold of index finger, the racketsurface declines too, and inward rotation operation or outward rotationoperation continues. The band and fingerhold may be made of one or morematerials of fiber, resin, rubber, leather, metal, and other elasticmaterial. Also, right-handed and left-handed persons may use the gripaid of the present invention, as it is or after changing the directionto install, relating to the matter mentioning like “providing saidfingerhold of thumb at right or left , , , etc”.

A racket grip aid of the present invention according to the Claim 1, hasa band which is made of one or more materials of fiber, resin, rubber,leather, metal, and other elastic material, and a fingerhold of a thumband a fingerhold for an index finger or a fingerhold for a thumb whichare made of one or more materials of fiber, resin, rubber, leather,metal, and other elastic material.

A racket grip aid of the present invention according to the Claim 2, hasthe fingerhold which is one with the band and made together with theband, or the combination of plural parts of band, or the fingerholdwhich is made of one or more materials of fiber, resin, rubber, leather,metal, and other elastic material, and made to insert a finger andcombined with the part of band, or the fingerhold which is made of oneor more materials of fiber, resin, rubber, leather, metal, and otherelastic material and which is combined with the part of band or which ismade detachable, or the fingerhold which is made of one or morematerials of fiber, resin, rubber, leather, metal, and other elasticmaterial, and which is combined with the racket grip or which is madedetachable.

A racket grip aid of the present invention according to the Claim 3, hasthe fingerhold of thumb at left or right on the front side of racketgrip, and pushing down the fingerhold, the racket grip is turned to theside of fingerhold of thumb, and inward rotation operation is promoted.

A racket grip aid of the present invention according to the Claim 4, hasthe fingerhold of thumb, at right or left on the front side of racketgrip, and the fingerhold of index finger at the other side of thefingerhold of themb, and pushing the fingerhold of thumb, the racketgrip is turned to the side of fingerhold of thumb, and inward rotationoperation is promoted.

A racket grip aid of the present invention according to the Claim 5, haszippers at both edges of band, and the band is attached to the racketgrip by zippers, or

making the band to the shape of a tube or a bag, the band is fastened tothe racket grip from the bottom of racket grip, or

combining both edges of the band with the connection tool, the band isfastened to the racket grip, or

combining the band which is one with the fingerhold and made togetherwith the fingerhold, with the racket grip, or

combining the band with the racket grip, or

attaching the band which is one with the fingerhold and made togetherwith the fingerhold, to the racket grip to surround the racket grip, or

combining the fingerhold which is one with the band and made togetherwith the band, with the racket grip.

A racket grip aid of the present invention according to the Claim 6, hasthe fingerhold of thumb at left or right on the front side of racketgrip, and pushing up the fingerhold, the grip aid promotes an outwardrotation operation which turns the racket grip to the other side offingerhold of thumb.

A racket grip aid of the present invention according to the Claim 7, hastwo independent parts of fingerhold of thumb to put the thumb inbetween, at left or right on the front side of racket grip, and pushingthe fingerhold to the other side of fingerhold of thumb, the grip aidpromotes an outward rotation operation which turns the racket grip tothe other side of the fingerhold of thumb.

A racket grip aid of the present invention according to the Claim 8, hasthe fingerhold of thumb to put the thumb at left or right on the backside of racket grip, and the index fingerhold at the other side of thefingerhold of thumb, and pushing the fingerhold of thumb to the side offingerhold of thumb, the grip aid promotes inward rotation operationwhich turns the racket grip to the side of the fingerhold of thumb, orpushing the fingerhold of index finger to the side of fingerhold ofindex finger, the grip aid promotes an outward rotation operation whichturns the racket grip to the side of the fingerhold of index finger.

A racket grip aid of the present invention according to the Claim 9, hasa fingerhold for a thumb and a fingerhold for an index finger which aremade of one or more materials of fiber, resin, rubber, leather, metal,and other elastic material, or a fingerhold for a thumb which is made ofone or more materials of fiber, resin, rubber, leather, metal, and otherelastic material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is an example of the racket grip aid of the present invention,showing the grip aid installed. (Front of eastern grip).

FIG. 2 is an example of the racket grip aid of the present invention,showing the grip aid with a fastener.

FIG. 3 is an example of the racket grip of the present invention, whichshows the racket grip aid, to install the grip aid using a band (1),without a fastener, and examples are also shown for those of fingerholdswhich combined plural parts of band (3), and the fingerhold combinedwith the band together with an enclosure (2).

FIG. 4 shows an example of the fingerhold of thumb installed on theracket grip. (Front of eastern grip)

FIG. 5 shows examples (1) with a fastener, and (2) without the fastener,together with a fingerhold of thumb, combining parts of band and made toinsert a finger.

FIG. 6 is an example of the racket grip of the present invention, whichshows the band which is made of the elastic material and the fingerholdis that combined plural parts of of band and made to insert a finger, orthe fingerhold is that combined plural parts of band, besides the caseto combine together with an enclosure.

FIG. 7 shows the fingerhold of thumb at left, and the fingerhold ofindex finger at the back side. (Eastern grip: side of fingerhold forthumb)

FIG. 8 shows the fingerhold of thumb at left, and the fingerhold ofindex finger at the back side, with or without a fastener.

FIG. 9 shows one of examples, providing two fingerholds of thumb to putthe thumb in between, at left or right on the front side of racket grip(Side view of eastern grip: left fingerhold for thumb)

FIG. 10 shows examples of fingerhold of thumb and fingerhold of indexfinger which are with the band and made together with the band.

FIG. 11 shows the fingerhold of thumb at the right side, with thefingerhold of index finger at the left side, (Back side view of westerngrip: frying pan handhold).

FIG. 12 shows one of examples of wide width band, and some other shapelike tube, bag, etc.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described withreference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a preferred embodiment of the racket grip aid installed at theupper part of badminton racket grip. (Eastern grip—front: the side toattach hand/finger).

1 Grip aid, 2 Fingerhold of thumb, 3 Fingerhold of index finger, 4 Bandare shown, and there is a way to put a fastener or other connection toolat the back side of band 4 to fasten to the racket grip, or to attachthe band to the racket grip, from the bottom of the grip, utilizing anelastic material for the band.

It is possible to use the fingerhold for both left-handed andright-handed persons, besides a way to change the direction to installthe band. The band as well as the fingerhold may be connected with theracket grip, using a screw or agrafe etc, as long as it does not violatea game rule.

FIG. 2 shows the top view of grip aid.

5 and 6 show a fastener for the connection. As an example, thefingerhold can be made, bundling plural parts of band which is made ofone or more materials of fiber, resin, rubber, leather, metal, and otherelastic material, and combining by sewing, clasp, glue and screw, etc.

FIG. 3 shows examples (1), (2), and (3) in the top view of grip aid.Fingerhold at the left side of (1) is made to insert a finger using apart of band. Fingerhold at the right side is made, combining pluralparts of band.

Fingerhold at the left side of (2) is made to insert a finger, using apart of band. Fingerhold at the right side of (2) is made, combining apart of band together with an enclosure which has the bounce equivalentto that bundled plural parts of band. Fingerhold at the left side of (3)is made to insert a finger using a part of band. Fingerhold at the rightside of (3) is another example combining plural parts of band.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the grip aid installed at the upper part ofracket grip. (Eastern grip: front). It is an example with a band and afingerhold at the left side, and there is a way to add a fastener at theback side of band, or a connection tool which makes the band detachable,installing the grip aid which is made of the elastic material, from thebottom of racket grip.

FIG. 5 shows examples (1) and (2) in the top view of racket grip aid.Those are examples of fingerhold on the left side with a fastener, andanother example of the band which is made of the elastic material toinstall it from the bottom of racket grip, instead of the fastener andother connection tool.

FIG. 6 shows examples (1), (2), (3) in the top view of racket grip aid.Fingerhold at the left side of (1) is that combined plural parts ofband, and fingerhold at the right side, is made to insert a finger.

Fingerhold at left side of (2) is that combined a part of band togetherwith an enclosure which is equivalent to that bundled plural parts ofband in its bounce, and fingerhold at right side is made to insert afinger, using a part of band. Fingerhold at left side of (3) shows otherexample of fingerhold which is the combination of plural parts of band,and fingerhold at right side is made to insert a finger.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the racket grip aid installed at the upperpart of racket grip. (Side view of eastern grip: left part of thumbside). An example shows a case with a fingerhold at left toward theband, and a fingerhold of index finger on the back of band.

For the fingerhold of index finger at the back side, its lower one ofthe fingerhold of index finger in FIG. 7 is like the fingerhold ofthumb, and upper one of the fingerhold of index finger in FIG. 7 is madeto insert a finger and detachable.

FIG. 8 shows examples in the top view (1) and (2) of the grip aid.Fingerhold of thumb of (1) is one which combined and processed pluralparts of band, and fingerhold of index finger is made like that of thumbto push down, or apart from that of thumb, it is made to push down,using a part of band which is made of the elastic material.

Fingerhold of index finger of (2) is the same as that of (1). It is away to attach/detach the band with the elastic material, installing itfrom the bottom of grip.

FIG. 9 shows an example of the grip aid installed at the upper part ofgrip. (Side of left one of fingerhold of thumb)

Facing the front, there is a fingerhold of thumb at the left side ofband, and another one (for thumb) at the front of band.

FIG. 10 shows examples (1), (2), and (3) in the top view of grip aid.Fingerhold of (1) has 2 parts for the thumb to put the thumb in between,which is one with the band and made together with the band.

Fingerholds of thumb and index finger of (2) are one with the band andmade together with the band, and for example, its material like rubberetc is processed/formed.

Fingerhold of thumb of (3), is one with the band and made together withthe band. For example, its material is the rubber to beprocessed/formed.

FIG. 11 shows the grip aid installed at the upper part of grip. (Back ofthe western grip)

It is an example of the fingerhold of thumb to be at right or left onthe back side of racket grip, and the fingerhold of index finger at theother side of fingerhold of thumb.

FIG. 12 shows the grip aid installed at the upper part of grip (Front ofeastern grip), with examples of wide width band, and the shapes of tube,bag, etc.

Although the present invention has been described above in relation tothe preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in theart that variations and modifications can be effected in these preferredembodiments and in any alternate embodiments without departing from thescope and spirit of the invention.

1. A racket grip aid comprising: a band which is made of one or morematerials of fiber, resin, rubber, leather, metal, and other elasticmaterial; a fingerhold for a thumb and a fingerhold for an index fingerwhich are made of one or more materials of fiber, resin, rubber,leather, metal, and other elastic material, or a fingerhold for a thumbwhich is made of one or more materials of fiber, resin, rubber, leather,metal, and other elastic material.
 2. A racket grip aid as in claim 1,wherein said racket grip aid comprises: said fingerhold which is onewith said band and made together with said band; or said fingerholdwhich is the combination of plural parts of said band; or saidfingerhold which is made of one or more materials of fiber, resin,rubber, leather, metal, and other elastic material and which is combinedwith said band and made to insert a finger; or said fingerhold which ismade of one or more materials of fiber, resin, rubber, leather, metal,and other elastic material, and which is combined with said band orwhich is made detachable; or said fingerhold which is made of one ormore materials of fiber, resin, rubber, leather, metal, and otherelastic material, and which is combined with said racket grip or whichis made detachable.
 3. A racket grip aid as in claim 1, wherein saidracket grip aid comprises: providing said fingerhold of thumb at left orright on the front side of said racket grip; pushing said fingerhold,said racket grip is turned to the side of said fingerhold of thumb, andinward rotation operation is promoted.
 4. A racket grip aid as in claim1, wherein said racket grip aid comprises: providing said fingerhold ofthumb at right or left on the front side of said racket grip; providingsaid fingerhold of index finger, at the other side of said fingerhold ofthumb; pushing down said fingerhold of thumb, said racket grip rotatesto the side of fingerhold of thumb, and inward rotation operation ispromoted.
 5. A racket grip aid as in claim 1, wherein said racket gripaid comprises: having zippers at both edges of said band, to fasten saidband to said racket grip; or making said band to the shape of a tube ora bag, to fasten said band to said racket grip from the bottom of saidracket grip; or combining both edges of said band with the connectiontool, to fasten said band to said racket grip; or combining said bandwhich is one with said fingerhold and made together with saidfingerhold, with said racket grip; or combining said band with saidracket grip; or attaching said band which is one with said fingerholdand made together with said fingerhold, to said racket grip to surroundthe racket grip; or combining said fingerhold which is one with saidband and made together with said band, with said racket grip.
 6. Aracket grip aid as in claim 1, wherein said racket grip aid comprises:providing said fingerhold of thumb at left or right on the front side ofsaid racket grip; pushing said fingerhold of thumb to the other side ofsaid fingerhold of thumb, said racket grip rotates to the other side ofsaid fingerhold of thumb, and outward rotation operation is promoted. 7.A racket grip aid as in claim 1, wherein said racket grip aid comprises:providing two fingerholds of thumb to put the thumb in between, at leftor right on the front side of said racket grip; pushing said fingerholdof thumb to the other side of said fingerhold of thumb, said racket griprotates to the other side of said fingerhold of thumb, and outwardrotation operation is promoted.
 8. A racket grip aid as in claim 1,wherein said racket grip aid comprises: providing said fingerhold ofthumb to put the thumb at left or right on the front side or on the backside of said racket grip; providing said fingerhold of index finger toput the index finger at the other side of said fingerhold of thumb;pushing down said fingerhold of thumb to the side of said fingerhold ofthumb, said racket grip is turned to the side of said fingerhold ofthumb, and inward rotation operation is promoted; pushing saidfingerhold of index finger to the side of said fingerhold of indexfinger, said racket grip is turned to the side of said fingerhold ofindex finger, and outward rotation operation is promoted.
 9. A racketgrip comprising: a fingerhold for a thumb and a fingerhold for an indexfinger which are made of one or more materials of fiber, resin, rubber,leather, metal, and other elastic material; or a fingerhold for a thumbwhich is made of one or more materials of fiber, resin, rubber, leather,metal, and other elastic material.
 10. A racket grip handling methodcomprises the steps of: providing a band which is made of one or morematerials of fiber, resin, rubber, leather, metal, and other elasticmaterial; providing a fingerhold for a thumb and a fingerhold for anindex finger which are made of one or more materials of fiber, resin,rubber, leather, metal, and other elastic material; or providing afingerhold for a thumb which is made of one or more materials of fiber,resin, rubber, leather, metal, and other elastic material.
 11. A racketgrip handling method as in claim 10, wherein said method comprises thesteps of: said fingerhold which is one with said band and made togetherwith said band; or said fingerhold which combines plural parts of saidband; or said fingerhold which is made of one or more materials offiber, resin, rubber, leather, metal, and other elastic material, andwhich made to insert a finger and combined with said band; or saidfingerhold which is made of one or more materials of fiber, resin,rubber, leather, metal, and other elastic material, and which iscombined with said band or which is made detachable; or said fingerholdwhich is made of one or more materials of fiber, resin, rubber, leather,metal, and other elastic material, and which is combined with saidracket grip or which is made detachable.
 12. A racket grip handlingmethod as in claim 10, wherein said method comprises the steps of:providing said fingerhold of thumb at left or right on the front side ofsaid racket grip; pushing said fingerhold of thumb, said racket grip isturned to the side of said fingerhold of thumb, and inward rotationoperation is promoted.
 13. A racket grip handling method as in claim 1Q,wherein said method comprises the steps of: providing said fingerhold ofthumb at right or left on the front side of said racket grip; providingsaid fingerhold of index finger, at the other side of said fingerhold ofthumb; pushing said fingerhold of thumb, said racket grip rotates to theside of fingerhold of thumb, and inward rotation operation is promoted.14. A racket grip handling method as in claim 10, wherein said methodcomprises the steps of: having zippers at both edges of said band, tofasten said band to said racket grip; or making said band to the shapeof a tube or a bag, to install said band on said racket grip from thebottom of said racket grip; or combining both edges of said band withthe connection tool, to fasten said band to said racket grip; orcombining said band which is one with said fingerhold and made togetherwith said fingerhold, with said racket grip; or combining said band withsaid racket grip; or attaching said band which is one with saidfingerhold and made together with said fingerhold, to the racket grip tosurround the racket grip; or combining said fingerhold which is one withsaid band and made together with said band, with said racket grip.
 15. Aracket grip handling method as in claim 10, wherein said methodcomprises the steps of: providing said fingerhold of thumb at left orright on the front side of said racket grip; pushing up said fingerholdof thumb to the other side of said fingerhold of thumb, said racket gripis turned to the other side of said fingerhold of thumb, and outwardrotation operation is promoted.
 16. A racket grip handling method as inclaim 10, wherein said method comprises the steps of: providing twofingerholds of thumb to put the thumb in between, at left or right onthe front side of said racket grip; pushing said fingerhold of thumb tothe other side of said fingerhold of thumb, said racket grip is turnedto the other side of said fingerhold of thumb, and outward rotationoperation is promoted.
 17. A racket grip handling method as in claim 10,wherein said method comprises the steps of: providing said fingerhold ofthumb to put the thumb at left or right on the front side or on the backside of said racket grip; providing said fingerhold of index finger atthe other side of said fingerhold of thumb; pushing said fingerhold ofthumb to the side of fingerhold of thumb, said racket grip is turned tothe side of said fingerhold of thumb, and inward rotation operation ispromoted; pushing said fingerhold of said index finger to the side ofsaid fingerhold of index finger, said racket grip is turned to the sideof said fingerhold of index finger, and outward rotation operation ispromoted.